The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Ezra 1:1-3, “Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the Word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he sent a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying:
2 ‘Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, “The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and He has appointed me to build Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah.
3 “Whoever there is among you of all His people, may his God be with him! Let him go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah and rebuild the house of the LORD, the God of Israel; He is the God who is in Jerusalem.”

There is a lot said about Persia in today’s news! Of course, what was called Persia in the days of King Cyrus, is today known as Iran. They have always been enimies of Israel.

King Cyrus then sent a proclamation throughout all of his kingdom that stated: “The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and He has appointed me to build Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah.”

Cyrus clearly indicates that the LORD has engaged his people to this task; yet, it appears He has not ordered specific individuals to engage in the operation of the LORD, but left it to those who wanted to be obedient in the rebuilding of the House of the LORD.

It is largely the way He deals with His Church today. Pastors, who are deeply in prayer concerning the will of
the LORD for themselves and for the churches to which each has been assigned, emphasize to their congregations what the LORD desires; then they labor in prayer and leadership regarding the LORD’s will. Prayerful congregations then undertake to follow their pastors’ leadership.

Pastors, who live in prayer with the LORD Jesus Christ, soon find that their congregants are following them in the very way that they are following the LORD. Thus, the
pressure that rests upon the pastor is shared somewhat with his followers.

Does your pastor have a goal for his life? Does he have a goal for the church he leads? –a goal that is shared with his congregation? And is that goal one that rests upon other members of the church? Note that the LORD initiated His goal through Jeremiah and through King Cyrus until it rested on the entire Nation of Israel.

Are you aware of the LORD’s desire for your life? Are you involved in His desire? It took all of the people to do
the LORD’s will in Jeremiah’s day. It is equally –if not more so— in importance today! Are you in your place before the LORD?

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Exodus 33:17-23, “The LORD said to Moses, ‘I will also do this thing of which you have spoken; for you have found favor in My sight and I have known you by name.’
18 Then Moses said, ‘I pray You, show me Your glory!’
19 And He said, “I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the LORD before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion.”
20 But He said, “You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!”
21 Then the LORD said, “Behold, there is a place by Me, and you shall stand there on the rock;
22 and it will come about, while My glory is passing by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by.
23 “Then I will take My hand away and you shall see My back, but My face shall not be seen.”

A gorgeous painting! a priceless gemstone! What could be more precious to the eye than the Face of Jesus, the LORD God Almighty! He is more precious! And what could be more desirable than to look upon His Face?

Moses was exceedingly bold to make such a request. At the same time, the opportunity was before him, and he boldly grasped the opportunity! More than likely, we would have been in such shock that our minds would be literally frozen just at the very thought!

Have you ever wondered how utterly glorious the Face of Jesus is? Rufus Cornelius, born in Blount County, Alabama in 1872, wrote:

“Oh, I want to see Him, look upon His face,
There to sing forever of His saving grace;
On the streets of Glory let me lift my voice;
Cares all past, home at last, ever to rejoice.”

Such awesome glory is exclusively reserved for those who truly know Him. Do you know Him? Have you asked forgiveness for your sins? Have you committed your life to Him by faith? by trust? If you have, you will one day be granted to look upon His glorious face! Oh what a day that will be!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

1 Chronicles 21:1-3, “Then Satan stood up against Israel and moved David to number Israel.
2 So David said to Joab and to the princes of the people, “Go, number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan, and bring me word that I may know their number.”
3 Joab said, “May the LORD add to His people a hundred times as many as they are! But, my lord the king, are they not all my lord’s servants? Why does my lord seek this thing? Why should he be a cause of guilt to Israel?”

Even when one minds his own business, Satan is always there to best him in the process. How often we are faced with decisions only to learn that Satan has moved in and is usurping the LORD’s leadership in our lives. It can happen in the home, in a business, in the church –any and everywhere!

David knew better! –at least, he ought to have known better! Joab knew that David’s order to him was out-of-line with the LORD’s will and declaration. How often have we have faced a similar situation. We hear or read and come-to-know the LORD’s will, but we move in a different life-direction. Having moved, we then encourage others to align with us instead of with the LORD!

It occurs in our homes, our businesses, our churches –everywhere! We just don’t listen to the LORD’s directives! God is calling someone to enter the ministry, but he doesn’t “feel” he has what it takes! That’s a clear forfeiture of dependence on the LORD! Is it not the LORD, who calls others to support those, who sense the call, but haven’t sufficient funds to enter into training? On whom are we leaning for these needs? It surely doesn’t look like we’re dependent on the LORD!

Care needs to be undertaken, even if we are prayerfully looking to the LORD to provide. If, however, we are looking to the LORD’s people for that provision,
we have moved away from our dependence upon Him. Aren’t we sorrowful if our children ask a friend for help instead of asking us? The LORD wants us to be dependent upon Him. So, simply trust in Him alone. There is no one as capable to provide as He! Nor is there anyone who possess greater desire to encourage his child than He!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Romans 12:9-18, “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.
10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;
11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;
12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer,
13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.
16 Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.
17 Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men.
18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.”

I have formaly studied four foreign languages; and I am prepared to say that there has never in my studies been a language so explicit as Greek. There are four separate words in Greek that are translatable as love. One word is so vile that it is thoroughly excluded from the Greek New Testament.

True love, ??????, as described in verse nine above, simply cannot be hypocritical. It is always genuine, always pure. Certainly, that’s the exact attitude we should always possess. It is always our LORD’s display toward us, and it should always be our genuine display toward others.

This love connects precisely with diligence, service, hope, preservation, blessing, rejoicing, respect, and peace. Yes, it’s not always in a competent relationship with others; yet, we are admonished to live lovingly as often as possible and without respect of the situation or those who occupy it.

What’s truly exciting is that we don’t have to be Greek to fulfill all that the LORD wants from us. Nor do others have to love us at all. It’s just being like Him! And, after all, isn’t that what everything is all about?

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom

Dear Grands,

Jeremiah 4:1-2, “If you will return, O Israel,” declares the LORD, “Then you should return to Me. And if you will put away your detested things from My presence, and will not waver,
2 And you will swear, ‘As the LORD lives,’ in truth, in justice and in righteousness; Then the nations will bless themselves in Him, And in Him they will glory.”

Forgiveness is one of the sweetest words in any language. Whatever you have done that is wrong, however far you have strayed outside the declared will of our Heavenly Father, there are no sweeter words you can ever hear than “return.”

I have known people who have so disagreed with their families that they have moved away from them and even denied the relationship. Yet, those families from whom they strayed, were made to understand that they were forgiven and welcomed to return home.

Instances of such ought to be researched in Scripture. For as the LORD lives, He is willing to forgive those who have wronged Him and others alike. The LORD is a Lord of love! He takes no delight in ostracization. He always disagrees with those who sin; yet, His love overwhelms His disappointment.

Never fear that the LORD will view sin more egregious than He views forgiveness. Loving, human parents stand always willing to forgive. With the LORD, forgiveness excels that of the most loving parents. We have but to repent and ask His forgiveness. And that repentance must contain within it the promise never to repeat what He went to the Cross to forgive. Are you a forgiving person? Is your conscience clear? Prayer handles things like that.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom